Pirate's Promise (Sentinels of Savannah #5) - Lisa Kessler Page 0,62

magic from the blade. The legends about the Tyrfing are a metaphor for greed. One of those “be careful what you wish for” stories. I’ve never found a text about lifting the curse before. Where did you find this?’” Caleb cleared his throat, raising his gaze from the phone. “What should I tell him?”

Char pushed her glasses up her nose. “Maybe tell him a historian at the Maritime Museum in Savannah found it in a captain’s log full of Viking stories. That’s close enough to the truth.”

He sent the reply and tucked his phone into his pocket. “Did that help at all?”

“I think so.” Aura nodded slowly and met Greyson’s eyes. “Mammon is the demonic representation of greed. This demon called himself Agent Thomas Mamon at Department 13. If he really is the demon of greed, why would he need the Tyrfing? Maybe he didn’t realize the curse would turn on him, too.”

Greyson frowned, holding her gaze. “Do you think he hears the sword’s whispers? Could the sword have been pushing him to find the chosen one?”

She nodded slowly. “Maybe. And if he doesn’t have this translation, he wouldn’t know the chosen one could end the curse.”

“I witnessed that blade cutting right through cars with one swing. If he thinks feeding the blade will make it stronger, what the hell is he trying to cut through?” Greyson cursed under his breath as he turned to Char. “What happens to the chosen one? Are we talking a prick on the finger or all their blood?”

Char stared at the text again and shook her head. “That information probably died with the dwarves who crafted the thing.” She lifted her head. “And how do we find the chosen one, anyway?”

Aura looked at each of them until her gaze landed on Greyson. There was a glint in her eyes that seemed…new. A recognition that he hadn’t betrayed her confidence. Or maybe he was reading too much into it.

She turned to the others and cleared her throat. “I think I’m the chosen one. That’s why I could hear the sword.”

“I’m guessing that must make you a descendant of the king.” Char tapped her finger on her tablet. “Wait, maybe not the king. I think this line is talking about his son. The prince who died by the sword.” She lifted her eyes from the page. “His bloodline can free the magic.”

“Could be, I guess?” Aura shrugged. “My grandmother was Scandinavian.”

Char’s eyes widened. “That’s why this demon is after you. He thinks you can lift the curse.”

“I doubt it.” She slid her hand free from Greyson’s and crossed her arms. “He’s the embodiment of greed. He told the werewolf pack he needed to ‘feed’ the Tyrfing. He believes my blood will give him more power.”

“So if we’re right and you can lift the curse…” Char stood up. “The key will be knowing how much blood it takes.”

Greyson tensed, stepping closer to Aura. “Our contract with Agent Bale wasn’t to lift a curse, it was to return a missing sword. I say we box it up and lock it back underground.”

Aura dropped her hands to her sides and turned to face him. “Mamon has had a taste of the sword’s power. He’ll never stop coming for it. He’s already broken into the vault once. This is a chance to end the danger of the Tyrfing forever.”

“Not if it means you die,” he growled. “You’re worth more than a fucking piece of metal.” Greyson pulled his doubloon from his pocket. Worrying the gold coin back and forth through his fingers helped him think. “Maybe we just kill the demon, then lock the box up in the vault. Problem solved and no blood spilled.”

Aura sighed. “Bullets barely slowed him down. For all we know, he can’t be killed.”

Caleb cleared his throat, and Greyson looked over at him. Caleb started to smile. “Maybe it doesn’t need to take her life, just her blood. The sword can’t kill someone who has taken a drink from the Grail.”

The Grail. Greyson shifted his attention to Aura. “The demon doesn’t know we have it.”

“It could work,” Aura replied, but her expression was far from relieved.

Char walked over to Caleb and caught his arm. “Let’s give them a little privacy to talk this over.” She looked at Greyson. “I’ll warn Colton we might have demonic company soon.”

“Thanks.” Greyson took Aura’s hand, then remembered something. He turned just as Char reached the door. “If you see that demon coming, cut the moor lines. The sword won’t